HIGH SCHOOL ICE HOCKEY: Kelly helps Lawrence skate past Nottingham

WEST WINDSOR — Pat Kelly always brought a lot of talent to the rink because hockey is something he has a great passion to play.

This season, he is bringing a little more.

The intensity is amped up a notch, the leadership qualities are more evident, and most of all, he’s leaving the rink a lot happier these days.

Kelly notched six points to lead Lawrence to a 9-0 win over Nottingham Friday in a Colonial Valley Conference game on the ice at Mercer County Park.

Advertisement

“I’ve always enjoyed playing the game and though the losses I never thought of quitting,” said Kelly. “But now it’s more fun coming to the rink because it’s exciting.”

The Cardinals (6-4-1, 2-4-1 CVC) are 6-1-1 in their last eight games and set the tempo with a pair of shorthanded goals in the first period. They opened things up in the second with four and cruised to the win in the third period.

“We got bit by the shorthanded goals” Alex Chis-Luca, the Nottingham coach stated. “I thought we were going to come out a little stronger. Than we started taking penalties in the second period and we weren’t happy about that.”

Kelly had three goals and three assists, Corey Zrinko added two goals and an assist and Julian Bolton along with Alex Finan each chipped in with a pair of goals. Alex “The Enforcer” Vichroski, Mitchell Brensinger and David Rembisz all had one assist.

“We came out a little flat and we didn’t play our best hockey at the start,” said John Ritchie, the Lawrence coach. “I told them that if we want to be one of the better teams this is the kind of adversity we have to work through. We played better in the third period and some of the guys off the bench added a spark.”

There has been a spark around the Cardinals most of the year and certainly after a championship performance in the Hamilton Holiday Tournament.

“Coach (John) Ritchie has things back on track,” said Kelly. “We are playing with a lot of heart and coming out to play every game. I’ve been here with just six or less losses in a season and now we have a chance to win. Everybody is in to it and everybody wants to win.”

Kelly has always loved the game and now winning has made it much more enjoyable…and rewarding.